I've got about five inches of the peplum for Deep Purple (aka Silver Belle) done, and people, this thing is HUGE! I'm not even sure how to measure it, because the stitches are all bunched up on my 40" circular, but I think it's a pretty safe bet that two of me could fit in here. That ball of yarn in the middle is what's left of a 250 gram hank of aran weight yarn. I am at an impasse. I think this is just going to be too big. And we all know my tendency to make sweaters that are too large. In this case, the situation is complicated by the fact that the only gauge given in the pattern is the gauge in seed stitch, which only comes into play in the bodice and sleeve section, and is therefore no use at all in figuring out one's gauge in the cable section. Add to that the fact that the measurements in the schematic are clearly incorrect, and I feel like I'm swinging in the wind here.The impasse I mentioned? Ah, yes. That would be my reluctance to rip out several days of work (I did mention the 250 gram hank I've almost knitted up?) without being absolutely certain that this is going to be too big. I'm not sure exactly how much evidence I need to make that determination. Apparently the fact that I wrapped this thing around the widest part of my hips and it created the wooly equivalent of a gigantic tutu is insufficient evidence that it will not miraculously block out into something that gracefully skims over my hips without making me look like I'm carrying twins.
A couple of hours on Ravelry have alerted me to the fact that at least several other people have had similar experiences with this sweater. I suspect the reason in some of those cases, including my own, is that the required gauge is very odd. The given gauge is 20 stitches to four inches in seed stitch on size 8 needles with aran weight yarn. Seems reasonable-ish. But when I swatched, I had to go down to a size 5 needle to even get close to that gauge, and the resulting fabric was stiffer than I would ever choose to knit. I am, admittedly, using a different yarn than that called for, but it's hard to see how it could be that different. For the peplum, I used a size 6 needle, reasoning that I didn't want to struggle with cabling so tightly and it would make little difference in the finished size.
This may have been an error.
And so, my dilemma: To rip or not to rip? That is the question.
15 comments:
Send me email. I am making this. I am further along than you are and had the same scare you are having, but I think mine will fit. We can compare measurements and decide whether either of us should panic. cynthia at stitchyourartout dot com.
hhmmmmm....Don't have any advice to give you on this one---seein as how I've never knitted a sweater. But your insight, dilemmas and success stories are encouraging. I am sure you are going to figure it all out and have a beautiful sweater in the end......sending prayers to the knitting goddess for answers!
You're not seriously expecting us to answer that are you? If we say rip, and you do and it was wrong, or we say don't and that was wrong, well, you see where I'm going with this don't you?
Talk to Cynthia. She's your best bet. Still love the colour!
?? I wish I could give you some advice but alas I have none. Not enough knitting experience so I'll just wait on the sidelines and see what happens :)....
knit with reckless abandon. That's what I would do.
I'm not even going to go there. I know how much it hurts having to rip out that much work, but no dye job in the world can help you out of this, if it doesn't fit. Best bet, talk to cynthia.
My first reaction was to say RIP that sucker. It seems like a doomed pattern. But maybe stick it out a bit longer since commenter Cynthia seems to be making some good progress on this sweater.
If things don't get better, then rip rip rip rip it.
Rip - before you spend any more time on it.
i feel your pain...notting hill isn't going well because i had cable mistakes which i'm not sure were mistakes or not due to the pattern being unclear, and i got lost on the armhole shaping...
i think you should do more research w/ppl who have already completed it and ask them what their measurements were at the point you're at before ripping :-)
Sorry no help from me but I am seriously frightened in many ways. I like the color though! :o)
I'll never forget a dress I had that was very full like your sweater. A wind came up and blew my dress up before I could catch it and there I was ... I'd reduce the fullness. The only time you should have a sweater with that much fullness is when your pregnant.
I hate to say it, but you need to rip that thing like an old band-aid. You = small, sweater = circus tent. If you want to be sure, thread it onto a long length of waste yarn, block it out, and try it on as best you can, and see how that works out.
This happened to me with this project, I couldn't get gauge, went down a needle size, cast on fewer stitches...and now it's not even in my 'zzzz' pile, it's deleted! But I'm a wimp;)
I think you'd be happier with ripping cuz you like things to actually fit instead of like me, who'll keep knitting no matter if it would only fit a cow.
I'm still back at SABLE ... realizing how much yarn I have scares me.
Now I'm going to be having knee replacement and my clutter of everything has me more scared - just to think about having anyone inside my home (except for me).
Oy vey!!
Ok ... put a fork in me ... I'm done.
I do, however, love your blog.
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